Some characters are written to grow, change, and carry the weight of a show’s emotional arc.

Others are written to… stand nearby. Quietly. Maybe throw in a reaction shot or a one-liner.

These are the characters I call tactical wallpaper — the ones who’ve been on our screens for years but somehow still feel like strangers.

(Peter Gordon/NBC)

They’re not guest stars. They’re not day players. They’re part of the ensemble. And yet, we know nothing about them.

They get no story arcs, deep emotional beats, or even a vague mention of life outside the job. They just exist. Always there, never seen.

Let’s start with Chicago Fire. It’s one of the worst offenders, and I say that with love.

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